Turkey on the Brain

It was this week many years ago that my study buddy and I were preparing for a biochemistry exam. We synchronized our day timers to ensure we could study around the clock, trying to memorize countless mechanisms. Despite our long hours and absolute dedication, the test terrified us. The material was difficult and, try as we may, we just couldn’t master it. However, we had one saving grace. Our professor announced he would grade that test on a curve.

“Surely everyone else is so busy making their Thanksgiving preparations that they won’t study much,” Esther encouraged me. “And they are so tired of the cardboard food served in the cafeteria that they can’t help but dream about the juicy turkey they’ll eat in just a few short days.” And so was born the phrase that made us optimistic: turkey on the brain, a disillusioned theory that our peers would do horribly on the exam as they dreamt of all the Thanksgiving fixings.

Our primary hope of passing the test hung on others having turkey on the brain. Isn’t life and faith very much like that? Every world religion other than Christianity teaches that eternity looms in the balances. Did we work hard enough? Were we good enough? Repeat enough prayers or save enough souls. Hard enough compared to what? Good enough compared to whom?

When it comes to eternity, there is no curve.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Death, my friend. Not an almost-made-it-death or a not-so-bad death or even an I-tried-really-hard death. Death. Forever.

The price is high, the way is narrow. Sinlessness. An absolute impossibility. I’m not sure how many minutes I can go without sinning, let alone attempting to walk this journey we call life without even one single blemish. Death.

But wait. The pure, Holy One took my sins–my spiteful thoughts, the ways in which I place my interests above those around me, my bitterness, lack of compassion and so much more–and placed them upon himself. He shattered the curve and the veil.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-23

I don’t have to wait until the final moments of my earthly life to know how the next will play out. I have been given permission to approach the Most Holy Place with confidence and am having a place in eternity prepared for me. And for that, I am exceedingly thankful.